Man stopped from attacking woman by Marine veteran charged

A man stopped by a good Samaritan from attacking a West Allis woman was charged late Thursday afternoon.

Marine veteran Charlie Blackmore spotted a woman getting kicked on Lincoln Avenue early Tuesday morning and used his gun to hold the woman's attacker, who was identified as Kenneth Harris, 43, until police arrived.

His call to 911 was released Thursday.

"There's a black male that just beat up a female in the street. He's walking away from me, and I told him to stop," Blackmore told the dispatcher.

Harris was charged with substantial battery. He's accused of beating his ex-girlfriend. Investigators said he kicked her while she was on the ground on the side of the road.

Blackmore stopped his car, got out and pulled out his 9 mm handgun.

"He's coming at me. I have a gun. Can I?" Blackmore asked the dispatcher.

"No," the dispatcher replied.

The cellphone call dropped, and when the dispatcher got Blackmore back on the line, he can be heard shouting commands to Harris.

"Get down. If you come at me, I will shoot you," Blackmore said.

"You said you did have a firearm on you?" the dispatcher asked.

"Yes. I have it on me. I have a conceal-carry permit, and if he comes at me, I'm going to take him down," Blackmore replied.

"Stay on the phone with me until the squads can get there. OK?" the dispatcher said.

"He just beat up this girl right here," Blackmore said.

"Where's the female?" the dispatcher asked.

"She's right behind me. The cops are here. There are four of them," Blackmore said.

Blackmore spoke after Harris made a court appearance.

"I mean it's a good thing. He deserves what he got. You know, if you're going to attack someone, especially a female, that's what you should expect coming to you," Blackmore said.

Blackmore said he recognized the victim after the beating as a woman he had seen walking to her job every morning.

Harris has a preliminary hearing on the felony charge scheduled for later in March.